I was very busy during last month and early this month. My work was packed and I needed to prepare for the assessment of my course. Besides, I am preparing the final version of my conference paper to be presented next month and I need to start writing another paper for another conference.
I need better time management so that I can allocate my time for family/research/work/study/rest. I tried to read some books but just couldn't afford some time to do so. Reading is my habit and I had to put it aside for a moment.
From what I have learned, the time management skill requires you to select the most important task for the day and focus on it. Having done that, go for the second most important task and so on. That's how you can complete the most rather than doing unnecessary but urgent tasks.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Housing in HK
Most of us in HK properly know that the housing prices are surging in the past 6 months and it seems that the trend continues. For those who want to purchase a home, they need to pay a higher and higher price and it looks like that their dream house is far away.
The government, along with property developers, are the only ones who deny the existence of a housing bubble. Everyone else knows the fact. If the housing prices increased by 20, 30 or even 40 percent in the past six months and this situation continues but our salary increment could not match them, it means that we are having a bigger and bigger bubble.
More people cannot afford the current housing prices means that these prices finally will fall and it's only a matter of time. So if you really want to purchase a dream home, I suggest that you had better wait. Set a price level that you think is reasonable and you can afford it, and hit it when the moment comes - the housing price drop to your set level.
The government, along with property developers, are the only ones who deny the existence of a housing bubble. Everyone else knows the fact. If the housing prices increased by 20, 30 or even 40 percent in the past six months and this situation continues but our salary increment could not match them, it means that we are having a bigger and bigger bubble.
More people cannot afford the current housing prices means that these prices finally will fall and it's only a matter of time. So if you really want to purchase a dream home, I suggest that you had better wait. Set a price level that you think is reasonable and you can afford it, and hit it when the moment comes - the housing price drop to your set level.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Korea
I just visited Korea for the last few days. I attended a wedding banquet there and it was a wonderful experience to see how Koreans celebrated their wedding. I was amazed that the some parts of the wedding ceremony were similar to us such as bowing down to parents, receiving lucky money, and dressing traditional garments.
Seoul is an energetic country and is building up rapidly. Most young Koreans are taller than Hong Kong people and most people there look similar to northern Chinese. There are many tall buildings in the city though many people still live in three-story building. Their places are as hygienic as Japan so you have no problem to enjoy you call of nature. Koreans love coffee. There are countless coffee shops there and their coffee tasted very good. Their food is mostly spicy.
It is a place worth visiting. It only takes you three hour to get there. Try it and you will like it.
Seoul is an energetic country and is building up rapidly. Most young Koreans are taller than Hong Kong people and most people there look similar to northern Chinese. There are many tall buildings in the city though many people still live in three-story building. Their places are as hygienic as Japan so you have no problem to enjoy you call of nature. Koreans love coffee. There are countless coffee shops there and their coffee tasted very good. Their food is mostly spicy.
It is a place worth visiting. It only takes you three hour to get there. Try it and you will like it.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Keep going
It has been a year since I started my graduate study. Time flies. When I started it in 2008, I thought that I still have a long way to go. Now I feel the pressure. I need to read more, faster, and wider. And I need to use more time on my study.
As a part-time student, normally you do not want to participate in any school activities. Those are for young adults. All you want is to attend classes, finish your assignments, and meet all requirements - you have no time for others. Although we are busy in our work and school, we should at least spend some time on some non-physical or non-social activities at school such as academic conferences and talks. Some of them are definitely worth to attend and I attended some. You get more knowledge while you meet others who are also keen to explore more.
See if we can meet in the coming conferences and talks.
As a part-time student, normally you do not want to participate in any school activities. Those are for young adults. All you want is to attend classes, finish your assignments, and meet all requirements - you have no time for others. Although we are busy in our work and school, we should at least spend some time on some non-physical or non-social activities at school such as academic conferences and talks. Some of them are definitely worth to attend and I attended some. You get more knowledge while you meet others who are also keen to explore more.
See if we can meet in the coming conferences and talks.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Life Style
As I grow older, I am used to my own life style. It may not be the best, but at least I like it. Even thought I can change it, I tend to change it better.
I like reading good books, newspapers, and magazines. I enjoy good food with my friends and family. I enjoy the lonely path of my research. I like classical music, visiting museums, travelling, and more.
Some people may like to follow the current styles but these "styles" are made by others so you are just following others. Ask yourself what you like the most, then go for it; listen to others while think independently by adopting those advices fitted you, then you will have your own style.
If you do not want to live under the influence of others forever, try to have your own life style.
I like reading good books, newspapers, and magazines. I enjoy good food with my friends and family. I enjoy the lonely path of my research. I like classical music, visiting museums, travelling, and more.
Some people may like to follow the current styles but these "styles" are made by others so you are just following others. Ask yourself what you like the most, then go for it; listen to others while think independently by adopting those advices fitted you, then you will have your own style.
If you do not want to live under the influence of others forever, try to have your own life style.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Tiananmen Massacre
I went to the Victoria Park tonight. This is the place I must go on 4 June.
We shall never forget what happened. No matter how many excuses people have, the reality is that on 4 June 1989, there was the Tiananmen Massacre in Beijing. It was not an "incident" or "event", it was a massacre. Not many people are using the term "massacre" now for fear or others, but killing massive people is massacre, nothing else. Any government who used guns and tanks to kill people commits a crime.
If anyone doubts what had happened on 4 June was not a massacre but merely an incident, a conflict or a small event, why no government officials dare to discuss it or concur the views of the central government? Thanks for our CE, we have recorded numbers of people showed up in the Victoria Park.
What happened in 4 June 1989 was a massacre, is a massacre, and will be a massacre.
We shall never forget what happened. No matter how many excuses people have, the reality is that on 4 June 1989, there was the Tiananmen Massacre in Beijing. It was not an "incident" or "event", it was a massacre. Not many people are using the term "massacre" now for fear or others, but killing massive people is massacre, nothing else. Any government who used guns and tanks to kill people commits a crime.
If anyone doubts what had happened on 4 June was not a massacre but merely an incident, a conflict or a small event, why no government officials dare to discuss it or concur the views of the central government? Thanks for our CE, we have recorded numbers of people showed up in the Victoria Park.
What happened in 4 June 1989 was a massacre, is a massacre, and will be a massacre.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Government direction again
A few weeks ago the HK government, once again, pronounced that it would consider giving resources to boost the growth of six different trades. It is just a repetition of the same mistake made years ago when the ex-CE claimed that HK would be a hub of Chinese medicine or IT or whatever. We now know that those ideas were built on sand. Again? Please don't.
Government giving directions never work. Those who work for the HK government are just people who know nothing but bureaucracy, probably they know one thing - how not to do it. You ask them to lead us? The performance of our government in the last 12 years speaks for itself.
The government should only provide the rule of law, respect its people, give us justice as well as beneficence and we should be doing fine. We know what we need. Give us the tools and we will finish the job. This is not North Korea, we don't need non-stop directions.
Government giving directions never work. Those who work for the HK government are just people who know nothing but bureaucracy, probably they know one thing - how not to do it. You ask them to lead us? The performance of our government in the last 12 years speaks for itself.
The government should only provide the rule of law, respect its people, give us justice as well as beneficence and we should be doing fine. We know what we need. Give us the tools and we will finish the job. This is not North Korea, we don't need non-stop directions.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Donation
As the economy is getting worse, more social organizations require donations from the public. We may donate a few dollars on street, but how can we know whether an organization is worth to donate if we want to donate more say a hundred dollars?
I think a simple way is to know the background of the charity you want to donate. We can go to see the website of the charity and see whether you like to support the services provided by the charity. In addition, you need to see the annual report to find out how the charity has spent its donations. If a charity has spent a substantial amount of donations to its staff salary, you should be careful. A good charity should, from my point of view, spends 90% of its income to its services. Anything between 80% and 89% is acceptable. Lower than 80% is not a good charity. If a charity cannot even provide a financial statement in its annual report, don't donate.
I think a simple way is to know the background of the charity you want to donate. We can go to see the website of the charity and see whether you like to support the services provided by the charity. In addition, you need to see the annual report to find out how the charity has spent its donations. If a charity has spent a substantial amount of donations to its staff salary, you should be careful. A good charity should, from my point of view, spends 90% of its income to its services. Anything between 80% and 89% is acceptable. Lower than 80% is not a good charity. If a charity cannot even provide a financial statement in its annual report, don't donate.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Be competitive
In the last 15 years, more people received post-secondary education. The result is that more educated people go to the job market. The market becomes more competitive in terms of education background.
20 years ago, you could assure yourself that you would get a decent job if you had a bachelor degree. 10 years ago, you could assure yourself that you were ahead of others if you had a master degree; and for those with a bachelor degree only, they had to work hard to find a good job. Now, you can assure yourself that you will have a good chance to get a job if you have a doctorate degree; and for those with a master degree only, they are not so sure and for the poor ones who only have a bachelor degree, tough life ahead.
If you still have years before retirement and want to be competitive, keep studying.
20 years ago, you could assure yourself that you would get a decent job if you had a bachelor degree. 10 years ago, you could assure yourself that you were ahead of others if you had a master degree; and for those with a bachelor degree only, they had to work hard to find a good job. Now, you can assure yourself that you will have a good chance to get a job if you have a doctorate degree; and for those with a master degree only, they are not so sure and for the poor ones who only have a bachelor degree, tough life ahead.
If you still have years before retirement and want to be competitive, keep studying.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
2009 Financial Budget
Have you read about the budget 2009 which is just released this week? I only know some of the key suggestions but they are heading to failure.
The government wants to create jobs for people. It is the right direction, but the internship programme for students means the government is extending the unemployability of students. The only purpose of internship programme is for reducing the unemployment rate, not for enhancing students' abilities for employment. Many students show their discontent by only getting several thousands a month in the internship program, they want to make big money. Unfortunately, they do not know that some of them are unemployable. If they were smart, they should get a job without assistance from government. The government should have enhanced their employability before pushing them to the market.
The government wants to create jobs for people. It is the right direction, but the internship programme for students means the government is extending the unemployability of students. The only purpose of internship programme is for reducing the unemployment rate, not for enhancing students' abilities for employment. Many students show their discontent by only getting several thousands a month in the internship program, they want to make big money. Unfortunately, they do not know that some of them are unemployable. If they were smart, they should get a job without assistance from government. The government should have enhanced their employability before pushing them to the market.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Adult Education
Our economy is getting worse so many working adults who want to do better than others are eager to enrol in adult education. The question is: what do you want to study?
Adult education is a big market and many institutions are offering various courses for working adults. However, having taken some of these courses does not mean that you job is secure. You need to know what an employer really wants.
Based on my experience in job interviews, I think most of the employers want three basic skills:-
1. above average spoken and written language skills, both English and Chinese;
2. logical problem solving skills; and
3. interpersonal skills to face difficult persons.
Go for courses that help you to enhance these skills and you should be doing fine with you job.
Adult education is a big market and many institutions are offering various courses for working adults. However, having taken some of these courses does not mean that you job is secure. You need to know what an employer really wants.
Based on my experience in job interviews, I think most of the employers want three basic skills:-
1. above average spoken and written language skills, both English and Chinese;
2. logical problem solving skills; and
3. interpersonal skills to face difficult persons.
Go for courses that help you to enhance these skills and you should be doing fine with you job.
Friday, January 30, 2009
投資之道
很多人都喜歡投資，但不少人在過往都有損失，此情况在去年尤甚。究竟投資是否有穩賺之法？
答案是否定的。投資是由我們的不同決定而有不同後果，正如我們在工作上所作的決定一樣，都會有錯對，那在投資上又豈能只賺不蝕？
如要正確投資，應注意以下事項：
一、多看高質素財經報刋如Financial Times 及信報/明報；
二、只選擇自己熟悉的行業的頭兩位股票，而且最好是藍籌股。大家只要對比去年藍籌股跌幅與其他股票跌幅便知損失一半與九成實在有很大分別；
三、不要持有多於五隻股票而且毎天都應該留意自己所持股票的公司是否穩當；
四、絕不沾手任何衍生工具，從無人能用買衍生工具產品而賺大錢；
五、每月只能買賣一次。
答案是否定的。投資是由我們的不同決定而有不同後果，正如我們在工作上所作的決定一樣，都會有錯對，那在投資上又豈能只賺不蝕？
如要正確投資，應注意以下事項：
一、多看高質素財經報刋如Financial Times 及信報/明報；
二、只選擇自己熟悉的行業的頭兩位股票，而且最好是藍籌股。大家只要對比去年藍籌股跌幅與其他股票跌幅便知損失一半與九成實在有很大分別；
三、不要持有多於五隻股票而且毎天都應該留意自己所持股票的公司是否穩當；
四、絕不沾手任何衍生工具，從無人能用買衍生工具產品而賺大錢；
五、每月只能買賣一次。
Saturday, January 17, 2009
2009
From all I read I realize that 2009 should be a difficult year. Although we are not heading to depression but we are in a recession and it could last for a couple of years.
Is it possible for us to do better in this recession?
Since the recession affects the whole world, there is no way that you can avoid it. That means no matter where you go, you would still feel the heat of recession. There is no place to hide.
For those who want to do better, you should prepare yourself to be able to find a living wherever you are. If you are managed to do it, then you definitely are much better than others. The question is how one can prepare himself to be able to find a living globally. The answers may be found in a book written by Kenichi Ohmae. He suggests that you need three abilities: language, finance, and problem solving. Language means excellent English, finance means knowledge of investment, and problem solving means logic. Kenichi comments that if you have the above abilities, you can go anywhere.
From my personal experience, I agree with what Kenichi said. There is no question that English helps you to communicate with others, investment knowledge leads you to affluence, and logic makes you excel at work. If you do not know much about the three abilities, learn them. They may save you in the coming few years.
Is it possible for us to do better in this recession?
Since the recession affects the whole world, there is no way that you can avoid it. That means no matter where you go, you would still feel the heat of recession. There is no place to hide.
For those who want to do better, you should prepare yourself to be able to find a living wherever you are. If you are managed to do it, then you definitely are much better than others. The question is how one can prepare himself to be able to find a living globally. The answers may be found in a book written by Kenichi Ohmae. He suggests that you need three abilities: language, finance, and problem solving. Language means excellent English, finance means knowledge of investment, and problem solving means logic. Kenichi comments that if you have the above abilities, you can go anywhere.
From my personal experience, I agree with what Kenichi said. There is no question that English helps you to communicate with others, investment knowledge leads you to affluence, and logic makes you excel at work. If you do not know much about the three abilities, learn them. They may save you in the coming few years.
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